The New Age of Information Overload
We live in an era where the digital revolution has paved the way for boundless information at our fingertips. Gone are the days when we had limited sources of information.
Consider the vast difference between the past and now. Previously, one would wait for the morning newspaper, a monthly magazine, or the 7 o’clock news for updates. Today, platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and various news apps push breaking news every minute and keep demanding our focus and attention.
This vastness, although a boon, has often overwhelmed us, leaving us in the paradoxical situation of having too much information but not enough insight or perspective. The key is not to get lost in the ocean of data but to navigate it with purpose.
Introducing “Creative Consumption”
Enter the concept of “creative consumption.” Instead of haphazardly ingesting information, this method encourages a deliberate and strategic approach to what we consume.
Imagine sifting through information with the intent of finding golden nuggets that can be woven into your scientific manuscripts, lectures, or patient education materials. By embracing this perspective, you’re no longer passively scrolling; you’re actively seeking and, more importantly, connecting dots.
Bird Song Technique
YouTuber Ali Abdaal calls this the “Bird song technique”, which is a powerful technique that he teaches in his online course, Part-Time YouTuber Academy. Just as an ornithologist listens to the songs of birds to identify species, a “creative consumer” needs to attune their senses to pick up valuable insights from the clamor of information.
To be able to discern these signals from the noise, one has to cultivate a habit of intentional listening and reading.
Creativity as an Active Choice
Austin Kleon, in his influential book “Steal Like an Artist”, emphasizes the importance of selective appropriation. True creativity doesn’t come from a vacuum but from recognizing, understanding, and innovatively synthesizing pre-existing concepts. He mentions:
“For an artist, there are things worth stealing and there are things worth not stealing”.
Austin Kleon
Viewing everything from this lens creates a fundamental shift in how we see the world! Otherwise, there is just far too much information out there. Therefore, to gain perspective on anything, you need to consume it intentionally.🧐
The Tetris Effect and the Power of Perception
The brain’s fantastic ability to pick up patterns and recognize them can be harnessed to our advantage. I had a first-hand experience with this when my wife bought a red Mazda🚗- I suddenly started seeing a million red Mazdas on the road the next month. I wonder where these were before!
Coined as the “Tetris Effect”, this phenomenon, like my personal experience with the red Mazda, exemplifies how our attention can shift and recognize patterns once we are aware or in possession of specific information. In the context of medical manuscript writing, it means once you have a topic in mind, you’ll start to see relevant data, studies, and insights everywhere.
Invitation for Shared Experiences
Each one of us has developed personal strategies to navigate the vast amount of scientific literature coming out each day. Whether it’s using apps that curate content, using AI-based searches, setting specific hours for information consumption, or having weekly themes, there are countless methods to adopt mindful consumption. I’m eager to learn how you are consuming with the mindset of a creator in today’s day and age.
Please do share any specific techniques you use for navigating the scientific literature📝.